System and method for playing a game

ABSTRACT

A system and method for playing a game is disclosed. Players divide a hand of six cards into two hands of three cards. The two three-card hands are evaluated with respect to two reference hands held by the banker, the dealer or a third party. The player wins if each of the player&#39;s three-card hands is superior in value to the corresponding reference hand. The value of a three-card hand is related to poker-hand strength if it contains at least one pair; however, the value of a three-card hand is related to its point value if it does not contain a pair.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/811,691 filed Jun. 7, 2006 and titled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PLAYING A GAME, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention disclosed herein relates generally to the systems and methods for playing a game. More specifically, the invention relates to systems and methods for playing a casino-style card game.

2. Description of the Related Art

Pai Gow is a casino card game. The deck may include a wild card. Each player is dealt seven cards and the player divides the seven cards into a two-card hand and a five-card hand. The player wins if the value of the two-card hand beats a reference two-card hand, and the player's five-card hand beats a reference five-card hand. The values of the hands are determined on the basis of poker-hand strength alone. Point value is never a factor.

Thirteen-card poker is also a casino card game. Each player is dealt thirteen cards and the player divides the thirteen cards into one three-card hand and two five-card hands. Each player compares each hand with the corresponding hand of the other players (usually three other players). For each superior hand, the player records a point, and for each inferior hand, the player deducts a point. The player's win or loss is calculated from the net number of points and the posted remuneration per point for that given table. The values of the hands are determined on the basis of poker-hand strength alone. Point value is never a factor. A player may also win by acquiring certain special hands, for example being dealt a thirteen-card straight flush.

Three-card poker is also a casino card game. Each player is dealt three cards. Usually, the player is paid according to a schedule, which is based on the poker-hand value of the three-card hand. The player does not evaluate the strength of the hand against a reference hand or another player's hand. In some versions, the player may play against a dealer and post an additional wager after evaluating the player's own hand. Under certain conditions, the player wins the additional wager if the player's hand is superior to the dealer's hand. Once again, point value is never a factor in the game.

Baccarat is a casino card game. The goal in Baccarat is to obtain a hand having a point value as close to nine as possible. Tens and face cards count as zero points. There is no discretion in basic Baccarat. The player and the house are dealt two cards each. The player automatically takes a third card under certain conditions, and the player automatically stands on two cards under certain conditions. The house automatically takes a third card under certain conditions, and automatically stays under certain conditions. The participants bet on the bank, the player, or a tie. In some forms of Baccarat, the players have some discretion if the point value of the first two cards is equal to a specific value. Baccarat only evaluates hands based on points; Baccarat does not determine hand values based on poker-hand strength.

Pan Nine is a casino card game similar to Baccarat. Pan Nine is ordinarily played with six to eight decks of cards. The decks have the cards numbered 7, 8, 9 and 10 removed. The object, like Baccarat, is to obtain a hand with a point value as close to nine as possible. The player is dealt three cards and has the option to draw one additional card. There are no ties allowed. Pan Nine only evaluates hands based on points; Pan Nine does not determine hand values based on poker-hand strength.

Pai Gow Tiles is not a card game. Thirty two tiles include 16 pairs and two wild tiles. Key tiles are the two 12-dot tiles and the two 2-dot tiles. When key tiles are matched with 9-dot tiles or 8-dot tiles the hand becomes a special hand, although the special hands are ranked lower than a tile pair. Each player is given four tiles to divide into two, two-tile hands. The primary object is to have matching (pair) tiles but, if unsuccessful, to use key tiles and match them with 9-dot tiles or 8-dot tiles. If that is not possible, then the object is to make a point value for each hand that is as close to nine dots as possible (nine is better than eight, eight is better than seven, and so on). Each tile has a specific number of dots on it. There are special names for each individual tile, including the sky (dragon) and earth, human, swan, and plum tree, just to name a few. The sky nine has 19 dots (12 plus seven), giving it a value of nine dots because only the single digit column is considered, while the earth nine has nine dots (2 plus seven), giving it a value of nine dots (directly). The Jokers can take on six dot or three dot values, depending on the circumstances. Pai gow tiles does not involve three-tile patterns, nor poker rankings other than domino-style matches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is a need for a casino card game where the elements of poker-hand strength and point value can be combined to stimulate strategic play.

To meet the need for a casino game that stimulates strategic play, some embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, particularly the card game versions, exhibit novel forms of starting hand parameters, game progression, and hand-strength valuation. One feature of some embodiments of the present invention is that each player begins play with six cards, which the player then divides into two, three-card hands, namely a front hand and a back hand. In one preferred embodiment, the value of the back hand must meet or exceed the value of the front hand. In some embodiments, the value of each three-card hand is equal to its poker value if the hand contains two or more cards of the same rank, or if the hand contains a wild card (and thus contains a pair or better). If, however, a three-card hand does not contain two or more cards of the same rank, and if the hand does not contain a wild card, then the value of the hand is determined by its point value. In some embodiments, the point value of a no-pair hand is calculated from the sum of the point values of the individual three cards. For numeric cards, the point value of the card is equal to its numerical rank, for picture cards, the point value is equal to zero, and the point value of an Ace is equal to one. In some embodiments, the goal is for the point value of the no-pair hand to be as close to nine as possible. And in some embodiments, the point value of the no-pair hand is equal to the “ones” column of the sum; that is, the point value of the three-card hand is equal to the remainder when the sum is divided by ten—thus the point value of a three-card hand in these embodiments can never exceed nine. In some embodiments, the player is rewarded if the player's front hand beats a reference three-card hand, and the player's back hand beats a second reference three-card hand.

Some embodiments of the invention are methods for playing a game involving a number of steps. One step involves providing a plurality of players, wherein at least one of the plurality of players is a bettor. Another step involves providing a card pool, wherein the card pool is made up of at least one standard deck of cards, and at least one wild card. Another step of the method involves dealing cards from the card pool into a plurality of whole hands, wherein each of the whole hands consists of six cards. Another step in the method involves delivering one whole hand of the plurality of whole hands to each of the plurality of bettors. Yet another step in the method includes directing at least one bettor in the plurality of bettors to arrange the bettor's whole hand into two, three-card hands, wherein one of the three-card hands is a front hand and one of the three-card hands is a back hand. Another step involves determining the three-card value of the front hand, wherein the three-card value is equal to its poker value if the front hand contains a pair, and its point value if the front hand does not contain a pair. In yet another step, the method includes determining the three-card value of the back hand, wherein the three-card value consists of its poker value if the back hand contains a pair, and its point value if the back hand does not contain a pair. Additional steps of the method include determining a reference front hand, determining a three-card value of the reference front hand; determining a reference back hand, determining a three-card value of said reference back hand; and also evaluating whether said bettor is a winner. The bettor is a winner where the three-card value of the bettor's front hand exceeds said three-card value of the reference front hand; and the three-card value of the bettor's back hand exceeds the three-card value of the reference back hand.

Some embodiments of the invention can include additional steps. One additional step involves selecting the poker values from a group including power pair, three-of-a-kind, two pair, and one pair. Still other steps include calculating point values such that the result is less than or equal to nine. In some of those embodiments, the point values may be calculated from the single-card value for each of the cards in a three-card hand, wherein the single-card value for each card is equal to one, if said card is an Ace; zero, if said card is a King, Queen, Jack, or Ten; and the numerical face value of said card if said card is a nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, or two. Additional embodiments may include the steps of determining the sum of the single-card values in the three-card hand; and determining the modulo of the sum with respect to a divisor, wherein the divisor is equal to ten.

Some embodiments of the invention are methods for playing a game among at least two people involving a number of steps. One step involves publishing a ranking list, wherein the ranking list establishes the value of a three-card hand. And additional step of the inventive method in some embodiments includes providing a card pool, wherein the card pool comprises at least one deck of at least 52 playing cards. Other steps involve providing each of the players with a whole hand, where the whole hand contains at least six cards from the card pool. Another step can involve commencing the game by having the players divide their respective whole hands into a front hand and a back hand, wherein each player's front hand contains three cards, and the back hand also contains three cards. Other steps that can be employed involve designating a reference front hand, designating a reference back hand and also comparing the player's front hand against the reference front hand and comparing the player's back hand against a reference back hand. Other possible steps in the method involve rewarding a player if the value of the player's front hand exceeds the value of the reference front hand and the player's back hand exceeds the value of the reference back hand.

In addition to the embodiments described above, an additional or alternative step in the method may include providing a card pool that contains one standard deck of 52 playing cards plus two wild cards. Other steps can involve providing whole hands containing exactly six cards. And calculating the value of said three-card hands from point values if said three-card hand does not contain a wild card, and if said three-card hand does not contain two or more cards of the same rank. In some embodiments of the method, the point value of a three-card hand is determined by the sum of the point values of the three cards in the three-card hand. In particular, the point value of a card can be equal to its numerical rank if the card is in the group comprising 2 through 10; the point value of a card is equal to zero if the card is in the group comprising jack through king, and the point value of a card is equal to one if the card is an Ace. In some embodiments, the point value of a three-card hand is equal to the remainder when the sum of the point values of the three cards in the three-card hand is divided by ten.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A provides an example of a proper way to divide a specific whole hand into three-card front and a back hands whereas FIG. 1B provides an example a fouled hand created from the same whole hand.

FIG. 2 provides examples of three-card hand comparisons in one preferred embodiment. These examples cover some of the cases where the hands contain at least one pair. The symbol “§” is used to indicate a Joker (wild card). In one preferred embodiment, the three-card hand on the left in a row is superior in value to the three-card hand on the right in that same row.

FIG. 3A provides examples of three-card hand comparisons based on point values for a preferred embodiment. These examples cover some of the cases where the hands do not contain either a clone or mixed pair. In one preferred embodiment, the three-card hand on the left in a row is superior in value to the three-card hand on the right in that same row. FIG. 3B provides additional examples of three-card hand comparisons based on point values for a preferred embodiment. These examples cover some of the cases where the hands do not contain either a clone or mixed pair. In one preferred embodiment, the three-card hand on the left in a row is equal in value to the three-card hand on the right in that same row. In such cases, the three-card hands having equivalent value are referred to as “copies.”

FIG. 4A provides an example of the proper way in one preferred embodiment to split a power pair under the House Logical Ways. FIG. 4B provides an example of an improper way to split a power pair in that same embodiment.

FIG. 5 provides an example of the proper way in one preferred embodiment to split a power pair under the House Logical Ways when the whole hand also contains two clone pair.

FIG. 6 provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand, under the House Logical Ways, from a whole hand containing two clone pair and no Joker or wild card.

FIG. 7 provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand, under the House Logical Ways, from a whole hand containing two mixed pair.

FIG. 8A provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand, under the House Logical Ways, from a whole hand containing four-of-a-kind. FIG. 8B provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand, under the House Logical Ways, from a whole hand containing four-of-a-kind plus a clone pair.

FIG. 9 provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand, under the House Logical Ways, from a whole hand containing a clone pair of rank higher than nine.

FIG. 10 provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand by splitting a clone pair, under the House Logical Ways, from a whole hand containing a clone pair of rank less than or equal to nine.

FIG. 11A provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand, under the House Logical Ways, from a whole hand containing a Joker (wild card) to improve the point value of the front hand. The symbol “§” is used to indicate a Joker (wild card). FIG. 11B provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand, under the House Logical Ways, from a whole hand containing a Joker (wild card) to improve the point value of the front hand. The symbol “§” is used to indicate a Joker (wild card).

FIG. 12A provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand, under the House Logical Ways, from a no-pair whole hand. FIG. 12B provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand, under the House Logical Ways, from a no-pair whole hand where the point values are not equal. FIG. 12C provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand, under the House Logical Ways, from a no-pair whole hand where the point values are both equal to nine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention relates to a game. In some embodiments, the invention comprises a casino game. In some embodiments, the invention comprises a card game, while in other embodiments the invention comprises a tiles game. The most preferred embodiment comprises a card game played at a casino or card room.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is a casino card game utilizing a card pool. In some embodiments, the card pool comprises a plurality of standard playing cards. In some embodiments, the card pool comprises a plurality of standard 52-card decks. In some embodiments, the card pool comprises one standard deck of 52 cards. In some preferred embodiments the card pool comprises wild cards. In some embodiments, the wild cards are selected from among the conventional playing cards (e.g. one-eyed jacks, suicide king, red deuces etc . . . ). In other preferred embodiments, the wild cards in the card pool are added to the standard deck(s) of 52 cards. In still other embodiments, the wild cards are a combination of special cards and standard cards. In the most preferred embodiment, the wild cards are Jokers. In some embodiments, there are two wild cards for each conventional deck of 52 cards. In the most preferred embodiment, the card pool consists of one standard deck of 52 playing cards plus 2 Jokers for a total of 54 cards.

In some preferred embodiments, the participants of the game include nine players. In other preferred embodiments, the participants include one dealer, and one representative. In some embodiments, there is one banker and eight bettors among the nine players. In some preferred embodiments, the dealer is an employee, agent or officer of the casino (or card room), and the representative is an employee, agent or officer of a third-party charity or corporation. In some embodiments, the number of participants is limited only by the size of the card pool. In those embodiments, the number of players can not exceed one-sixth the number of cards in the card pool.

In one preferred embodiment, the banker is responsible for posting a wager, known as the banker reservoir. The amount of capital in the banker reservoir is the maximum amount that the banker can win or lose in the respective hand, except in unusual circumstances. Moreover, in some embodiments, the banker reservoir is the maximum amount of capital that can be transferred among players in the respective hand. In other preferred embodiments, the dealer on behalf of the casino/card room, or the representative on behalf of the charity/corporation, settles wagers that remain when the banker reservoir is exhausted.

In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the dealer may be responsible for shuffling the cards, dealing the cards, reading the hands, settling the wagers, collecting the rake or antes (if any) and either by rule or upon request, setting the banker's hand, and/or setting one or more of the players' hands according to their respective instructions or according to the House Logical Ways guidelines. The dealer is also tasked with ensuring the smooth play the game.

In some of the embodiments having a representative, the representative does not actively participate in the game. In some preferred embodiments, the representative has the privilege and obligation to settle all outstanding wagers (if any) that remain in a hand when the banker reservoir is exhausted. We refer to the pool of capital over which the representative has control as the corporate reservoir. In some of the embodiments having a dealer, the dealer does not actively participate in the game. In some preferred embodiments, the dealer has the privilege and obligation to settle all outstanding wagers (if any) that remain in a hand when the banker reservoir is exhausted. We refer to the pool of capital over which the dealer has control as the casino reservoir. In still other embodiments, the dealer acts as the banker in all hands.

The apparatus utilized in one preferred embodiment comprises: a playing table, the card pool, three dice, a dice cup, a banker button, an action button, and some form of capital. The preferred playing table will have nine player positions, with each seat labeled, for example, with a letter Alpha through India (or a number one through nine). The table will also contain a dealer position, preferably one where the dealer is facing the players as the players are seated about a semicircular arc. The table may also contain an additional seat for the representative. The player table may also contain a marked wager area that is common to all players, or the table may contain a plurality of marked wager areas such that there is a specific wager area for each individual player. The player table may also contain common or individual marked areas in which the players place their front hand and back hand (as described below).

The most preferred embodiment comprises a device or method for determining random or quasi-random numbers. One advantage of utilizing a random number generator is that it helps to ensure the fairness of the game. The three dice and the dice cup described above may be utilized as a random number generator. The random number generated may be used, without limitation, to determine items such as: which of the players is the action player, which of the whole hands is the action hand, and/or which of the players is the banker. In the preferred embodiment, the banker will use the three dice and the dice cup to determine the action player; however in some embodiments, the dealer will determine the action player, in still other embodiments, the representative will determine the action player, and in still other embodiments, a player other than the banker will determine the action player. In some embodiments, the three dice in a dice cup may be replaced by an electronic random number generator.

In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a banker button. In those embodiments where a banker has been selected from among the players, the banker button is placed near to, or in front of, the player selected as the banker. The banker button is merely an indication of which player is acting as the banker, which aids the dealer, if any, the representative, if any, and the other players, if any, in following the action and following the process of settling the wagers.

In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes an action button. In those embodiments where an action hand has been selected from among the dealt whole hands, the action button is placed on the action hand. When the action hands are distributed to the players, the player receiving the hand with the action button becomes the action player. In those embodiments where an action player, rather than an action hand, has been selected, the action button is placed near to, or in front of, the action player.

The capital is used to make and settle wagers. In the preferred embodiment, the capital consists of chips (also known as “checks” in the casino industry) with single or multiple denominations as appropriate for the stakes of the game. In other embodiments, the capital is cash or currency. In still other embodiments, the wagers and payouts are recorded manually, mechanically, or electronically.

To help insure fairness of the game, prior to starting the game, the dealer, players, representative, and or third-party may check the card pool to verify that the card pool is exact and is comprised of the expected components. The card pool is then randomized, preferably by the dealer, most preferably by mechanical means, by shuffling, scrambling and/or cutting the card pool.

In one preferred embodiment, the players will bring to the table an amount of money, credit, chips, or checks that the player wishes to risk over the course of the game. In some embodiments, a player may only bring to the table a set amount of capital; that amount defined by the casino or card room. In some embodiments, a player may not re-buy chips or bring more capital to the table if the initial amount of capital brought to the table by that player is lost. In other embodiments, a player may buy more chips or bring more capital to the table at any time. In still other embodiments, the player may not bring more capital to the table or buy more chips until that player is designated as the banker. In still other embodiments, a player may buy chips or bring more capital to the table at any time other than immediately before or during a round where that player is designated as the banker.

In one preferred embodiment, the game begins with nine players in player positions designated Alpha through India, a dealer in the dealer position, and the representative in the representative position. In one embodiment, the player at position Alpha is designated as the banker and receives the banker button for the first round of play. In another preferred embodiment, the player who draws the highest card is designated as the banker and receives the banker button for the first round of play. In still other embodiments, the banker is randomly selected from among the nine players and receives the banker button for the first round of play. In still other embodiments, the dealer acts as the banker for all rounds.

In some embodiments, the player designated as the banker must act as the banker for the round. In other embodiments, the person designated as the banker may elect to pass the banker button and thereby not act as the banker for that round.

In one embodiment, a round is a single hand. In other embodiments, a round is a preset number of hands, in still other embodiments, a round continues until the designated banker voluntarily relinquishes the banker button, or until the designated banker is unable to make a wager. In the most preferred embodiment, one round equals one hand.

Upon completion of a round, the banker button may move to another player based on the alphabetical order of the players' seat designations. In other embodiments, the banker button moves to another player based on the reverse alphabetical order of the players' seat designations. In still other embodiments, the player to be designated as the banker in the next round will be determined randomly or quasi randomly. In still other embodiments, the player designated as the banker the next round will be determined based a preset formula or pattern that is published, reported, advertised, posted, displayed and/or promulgated by the casino or card room. In the most preferred embodiment, the player in position Alpha is the furthest to the dealer's left along a semi-circular arc. In the most preferred embodiment, the game begins with the player in seat Alpha having the option to accept the banker button and act as the banker for one round, or pass the banker button to the next player. In the most preferred embodiment the option to accept the banker button and act as the banker moves from left to right, which is both clockwise and in alphabetical order of seat designation. In the most preferred embodiment, when the player designated India completes a round as the banker or elects to pass the banker button, the option will return to the player designated Alpha.

In some embodiments, each player, including the bettors and the banker, puts up a certain amount of capital (e.g. chips, checks, currency, and/or credit) which that player has chosen to risk or wager on the outcome of the hand. In one preferred embodiment, the players each make a first wager prior to the cards being dealt. In some embodiments, the banker's first wager is referred to as the banker reservoir, and the first wager for each bettor is referred to as that bettor's main wager. In some embodiments, the bettors must post their main wagers prior to the time that the banker posts the banker reservoir, in other embodiments, the banker must post the banker reservoir prior to the individual bettors making their main wagers. In still other embodiments, the banker must post the banker reservoir and the bettors must post their main wagers, concurrently. In one preferred embodiment, the banker reservoir represents the maximum amount of capital that the banker can win or lose in the given hand; and the main wager is the maximum amount of capital that a bettor can win or lose in the given hand.

In one preferred embodiment, the players also put up an ante. In some embodiments, all players are responsible for putting up an ante, in other embodiments only the bettors are responsible for putting up an ante. In some embodiments, the antes are collected by the dealer on behalf of the casino, in other embodiments the antes are collected by the representative on behalf of the corporation or charity, in still other embodiments, the antes are divided between the dealer/casino and representative/corporation based on a preset formula. In some embodiments, the ante is a fixed capital amount per player (or bettor as appropriate) per hand, in other embodiments, the ante is a set fraction of the bettor's main wager and/or banker reservoir. In still other embodiments, there is a rake, which is determined based on a formula which is dependent on the total amount of capital wagered and/or the total number of players involved in the hand. In some embodiments, the rake is collected by the dealer on behalf of the casino or card room, in other embodiments the rake is collected by the representative on behalf of the corporation or charity; in some embodiments the rake is divided among the dealer/casino and representative/corporation based on a preset formula. In some embodiments there is both an ante and a rake are collected, in other embodiments only an ante is collected, in still other embodiments, only a rake is collected. In the most preferred embodiment, the dealer collects a rake on behalf of the casino or card room that is calculated from a preset formula based on the number of players and the amount of each player's main wager and the banker's banker reservoir.

Some embodiments of the invention permit the players to make additional, so-called exotic wagers (e.g. a form of side bet set apart from the main wager). In some embodiments, the exotic wager is a specific capital amount, in other embodiments the capital amount for the exotic wager is at the player's discretion. In some embodiments, the banker is permitted to make an exotic wager, and in other embodiments the banker is prohibited from making an exotic wager. In one preferred embodiment, the exotic wager is settled between the dealer/casino/card room and the player; in other embodiments the exotic wager is settled between the representative/corporation and the player; in other embodiments, the exotic wager is settled between the banker and the bettor. Permitting exotic wagers allows the casino, card room, or corporation to finely tune the odds that a player, casino and/or corporation is getting for playing, spreading or underwriting the game. In some embodiments, when a player makes a successful exotic wager, then the player will only lose a fraction of his main wager, even if the player loses that hand. For example, if the player loses both of three-card hands against the banker, but the bettors whole hand defeats the banker's whole hand, then the bettor would not lose the bettor's entire main wager. In other embodiments, a player's exotic wager is paid off according to a specific schedule if the player makes a specific or unusual hand (e.g. a whole hand consisting of six cards having the same suit). In the most preferred embodiment, exotic bets are not permitted.

In one preferred embodiment, game play begins by dividing the card pool into a plurality of six-card piles, more preferably, a total of nine, six-card piles. In some embodiments, the card pool is divided into nine, six-card piles by the dealer. In other embodiments, a machine divides the card pool into nine, six-card piles. The nine, six-card piles are placed on the player table, face down. Each six card hand represents one whole hand, and the whole hands may be designated by the numbers one through nine. In one embodiment, the six-card pile placed closest to player position Alpha is referred to as whole hand number one; and the six-card pile placed closest to the player in position India is referred to as whole hand number nine.

In one preferred embodiment, one whole hand from among the plurality of whole hands is designated as the action hand. In some embodiments, the banker may select which of the whole hands is to be designated as the action hand. In other embodiments, the dealer or the representative may select which of the whole hands is to be designated as the action hand. In other embodiments, the bettor making the highest main wager may select which of the whole hands is to be designated as the action hand. In still other embodiments, the action hand is selected randomly from among a plurality of whole hands. In some embodiments, a random number generator is utilized to determine which of the plurality of whole hands is the action hand. In some embodiments, the random number generator is electronic, in other embodiments the random number generator is mechanical, in still other embodiments, the random number generator is comprised of the three dice and the dice cup. In the most preferred embodiment, the banker chooses which of the plurality of whole hands is to be designated the action hand.

In one preferred embodiment, the whole hand that has been selected as the action hand is marked by placing the action button in proximity with the action hand. In the most preferred embodiment, the dealer places the action button in proximity with the designated action hand. This aids the players, the dealer and the representative in remembering which hand is the action hand. This may be important to help preserve the integrity and fairness of the game because, in some embodiments, the settling of wagers begins with the player holding the action hand.

It is necessary to determine which player receives which whole hand. In one preferred embodiment, the action player is defined as the player who receives the action hand and the action button. In one embodiment, the banker receives the action button and the whole hand designated as the action hand. In another embodiment, the player who will have the option to be the banker in the next hand will receive the action button and the action hand. In another embodiment, the bettor who placed the largest main wager will receive the action hand with action button. In another embodiment, the player who will receive the action hand and the action button follows a predetermined formula. More preferably, the player who receives the action button and the action hand is determined by a random number generator. In the most preferred embodiment, the player who receives the action button and the action hand is determined by the three dice in the dice cup. The banker, dealer, representative, third party or one of the bettors shakes the dice in the dice cup and reveals the dice on the table. In the most preferred embodiment, the random number is the sum of the three dice.

In some embodiments, the action player is determined by counting players beginning with the banker until the random number is reached. In some embodiments, the banker is always the first player counted; that is the banker position is the position from which the count originates. For example, at a nine player table, the banker would be the action player if the random number generated was either one or ten. The player to the banker's left would be the action player if the random number was two or eleven, and so on. In the preferred embodiment, the action hand and the action button are delivered to the action player.

In one preferred embodiment, once the action player and the action hand are determined, the rest of the whole hands are distributed to the rest of the players according to a predetermined pattern. In the most preferred embodiment, the whole hands are delivered to the players in increasing order of the number of the whole hand and the letter of the player. For example, if the action hand was whole hand number three and the action player was player Delta, then hand number three would be distributed to player Delta, hand number four would be distributed to player Echo, hand number five would be distributed to player Foxtrot, etcetera.

In order to protect the integrity and fairness of the game, in some embodiments the banker's hand will be held by the dealer, the representative, or a third-party. In some embodiments, no portion of the banker's whole hand will be revealed to any player prior to the time at which all of the bettors have set their hands.

Each player can divide his six-card whole hand into two, three-card hands. The two, 3-card hands are referred to as the front hand and the back hand. In one preferred embodiment, the value of the back hand exceeds the value of the front hand by rule. If the value of the front hand exceeds the value of the back hand, then the hand is deemed a fouled hand. In the event of a fouled hand, preferably the bettor who set the fouled hand relinquishes his wager. In other embodiments, if the front hand exceeds the value of the back hand, then the two hands are exchanged, whereby the back hand becomes the front hand, and the front hand becomes the back hand. The latter, more permissive rule helps to protect novice players from making catastrophic mistakes. In those embodiments that permit the front hand to be exchanged for the back hand in the event of a fouled hand, there may not be any discretion in exchanging the front for the back hand. The player may not be permitted to reset the hands such that the back hand contains any cards other than what was originally set in the front hand, or the front hand contains any other cards than were originally set in the back hand. In the most preferred embodiment, a fouled hand results in the forfeiture of the main wager and any other secondary or exotic wagers posted by that player.

In some embodiments, the bettor's front and back hands are set face down, in other embodiments the bettor's front and back hands are set face up. In one preferred embodiment, the bettor's hands are set face down and not turned face up until the banker's front and back hands are set. In one preferred embodiment, the cards are turned face up by the dealer.

In one preferred embodiment, the banker sets the banker's front hand and back hand (from the banker's six-card whole hand) after all of the bettors' hands are set. In some embodiments, the dealer sets the banker's front and back hands according to preset rules. In other embodiments, the dealer sets the banker's front and back hands according to the banker's instructions and/or approval. In still other embodiments, the banker sets the bank's front and back hands. As with the bettors, in one preferred embodiment, the bank's front and back hands are set such that the value of the banker's back hand exceeds the value of the banker's front hand.

In one preferred embodiment, when the banker and the bettors' front and back 3-card hands have all been set, the dealer determines which of the bettors is a primary winner in the hand (if any). In some embodiments, the representative determines which of the bettors is a primary winner in the hand (if any), and in other embodiments a third-party determines which of the bettors is a primary winner in the hand (if any). In one preferred embodiment, a better is declared to be a primary winner if both the value of the bettor's front hand exceeds the value of the banker's front hand, and the value of the bettor's back hand exceeds the value of the banker's back hand. In one preferred embodiment, if the value of a bettor's front hand exceeds the value of the banker's front hand, but the value of the banker's back hand exceeds the value of the same bettor's back hand, then a push is declared. Similarly, if the value of the bettor's back hand exceeds the value of the banker's back hand but the value of the banker's front hand exceeds the value of the same bettor's front hand, than a push is declared.

In some embodiments, two, three-card hands that have the same value are referred to as copies. In some preferred embodiments, a tie or copy goes to the banker. In other embodiments, a tie or copy goes to the player. In the most preferred embodiment, a tie or a copy goes to the banker, that is, if the banker and a bettor have the same three-card hand in their front hands, then the value of the banker's front hand is declared to exceed the value of the bettor's front hand by rule. Similarly, if the banker and a bettor have the same three-card hand in their back hands, then the value of the banker's back hand is declared to exceed the value of the bettor's back hand by rule.

In one preferred embodiment, royal flushes, straight flushes, four of a kind, full houses, flushes, straights, and two pair are either not possible to achieve, or not recognized as hand values for a three-card hand. In one preferred embodiment, the suits of the cards are not relevant. In the most preferred embodiment, the only possible three-card combinations of recognized value are three-of-a-kind hands (also known as trips), one-pair hands, and no-pair hands. A no-pair hand comprises three cards of different ranks without a wild card. In one-pair hands, the third card (that is, the unpaired card) can be referred to as the “power card” or kicker.

In one preferred embodiment, and as described above, the card pool may consist of one standard deck of 52 playing cards plus 2 Jokers, wherein the Jokers act as the wild cards. In these preferred embodiments, a wild card may only be used to make a pair or make trips. Trips may consist of two wild cards plus a standard card, or a standard pair plus a wild card. In some embodiments, a pair of wild cards, such as a pair of Jokers, in a single three-card hand is referred to as the power pair. In some embodiments a three-card hand comprising two wildcards (e.g. both Jokers) is the highest possible hand regardless of the rank of the third, unpaired card in the three-card hand. For example, (Joker, Joker, 2) would have a higher value, and beat, (King, King, King).

In the most preferred embodiment, trips beats one pair, and one pair beats no pair.

In one preferred embodiment, a one-pair hand that is made using a standard card and one of the wildcards is called a mixed pair; and a one-pair hand that is made using two standard cards of the same rank (i.e. neither of the cards in the pair being a wild card) is called a clone pair. The rank of a mixed pair may be characterized by the rank of the standard card (e.g. the best hand, you could make from the three-card hand Joker, 8, 7 would be a mixed pair of eights). In some embodiments, a mixed pair beats a clone pair of the same rank. In other preferred embodiments, a mixed pair and a clone pair of the same rank are exactly equal in value, therefore, the third card, which may be referred to as the power card or kicker, will determine which three-card hand (the clone pair or the mixed pair) has the highest value. In other preferred embodiments, a clone pair beats a mixed pair of the same rank.

In one preferred embodiment, the relative value of no-pair hands is determined on the basis of points. An Ace has a point value of one, a face card has a point value of zero, and a ten has a point value of zero. The point value of any other card is equal to its rank. The value of a three-card, no-pair hand is equal to the sum of the points of the three cards in that hand. If the sum of the point values of the three cards exceeds nine, then the point value for the three card hand is equal to the digit in the “ones” column of the sum—the number in the tens column is simply ignored. For example, if a three-card, no-pair hand contained (Ace, king, six), then the point value for the no-pair hand would be equal to seven; if a three-card, no-pair hand contained (9, 4, 2) then the point value for the no pair hand would be equal to five.

In one preferred embodiment, the highest valued no-pair hand is a nine-point hand, the second-highest valued no pair hand is an eight-point hand, and so on, down to the lowest valued no-pair hand, which would be a zero-point hand. In other words, a nine-point hand beats an eight-point hand, which beats a seven-point hand, which beats a six-point hand, which beats a five-point hand, which beats a four-point hand, which beats a three-point hand, which beats a two-point hand, which beats a one-point hand, which beats a zero-point hand. In one preferred embodiment, a nine-point three-card hand is valued higher than an eight-point hand, regardless of the ranks of the cards comprising the two hands.

In one preferred embodiment, two no-pair hands of the same point value are considered copies regardless of the ranks of the cards comprising the two hands. For example, (King, Jack, 9) versus (2, 3, 4) would be ruled a push. In other embodiments, two no-pair hands of the same point value will not be considered copies unless the three cards in one hand have the same three ranks as the three cards in the other hand. If the two hands do not share all three ranks, then the hand with the highest ranking card that does not appear in the other hand will be deemed to have the higher value, e.g. (King, 6, 2) would have a higher value than (Queen, 6, 2) even though both no-pair hands have a point value equal to eight. Similarly, the hand (Ace, 5, 2) would beat (Ace, 4, 3). In some embodiments, an Ace will be considered as the highest-valued single card, in which case the ranking of the individual cards in order of decreasing value would be as follows: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. In the most preferred embodiment, two, three-card hands having equivalent point values equal to, or less than, eight are considered copies regardless of the ranks of the cards in each hand. In the most preferred embodiment, two, three-card hands, both having point values equal to nine, will not be considered copies unless the three cards in one hand have the same three ranks as the three cards in the other hand. In the most preferred embodiment, if the two hands having point value equal to nine do not share all three ranks, then the hand with the highest ranking card that does not appear in the other hand will be deemed to have the higher value.

In the preferred embodiments where the banker is chosen from among the players and the banker puts up a wager called the banker reservoir, it is important to determine with which bettor the settling of main wagers should begin. In some embodiments, the settling of wagers begins with the player to the banker's immediate left, which is a movement clockwise around the table, or movement in increasing alphabetical order. In some embodiments, the better with whom the settling process begins is chosen by a random number generator. In the most preferred embodiment, settling begins with the action player holding the action button and action hand. Settling may then continue in the clockwise direction, which is in the direction of increasing alphabetical order. If the banker was the action player holding the action button and the action hand, then in the preferred embodiment, settling begins with the player to the banker's immediate left, which will typically be in the clockwise and increasing alphabetical order direction from the perspective of the dealer.

In the preferred embodiments where the dealer or the representative is also the banker, the order of settling is not particularly important. This, of course, assumes that there is an unlimited reservoir of funds from which the dealer or the representative, as applicable, is able to pay off the winning players' main wagers.

In one preferred embodiment, when the order of settling has been determined then the settling may begin. In those embodiments where the banker is selected from among the players, and the banker puts up a banker reservoir, the maximum amount of money that the banker can win or lose is defined by the total amount of capital in the banker reservoir. In one preferred embodiment, the amount of capital in the main wager made by the first settler is extracted from the banker reservoir and put in the center of the table. If the amount of capital in the main wager of the first settler exceeds the amount of capital in the banker reservoir, than the portion of the first settler's main wager that exceeds the amount of capital in the banker reservoir is returned to the first settler. If the value of the first settling bettor's front hand exceeds the value of the banker's front hand, and the value of the first settling bettor's back hand exceeds the value of the banker's back hand, then the bettor wins the hand and receives his main wager plus the amount of capital extracted from the banking reservoir (which was placed in the center of the table) to cover the main wager.

If the value of the banker's front hand is equal to or exceeds the value of the first settling bettor's front hand, and the value of the banker's back hand is equal to or exceeds the value of the first settling bettor's back hand, then the banker wins and the first settling bettor's main wager plus the capital extracted from the banker reservoir is delivered to the banker. In some preferred embodiments, the capital extracted from the banker reservoir is returned to the banker reservoir when the banker wins a hand against the settling player. In other preferred embodiments, both the capital extracted from the banker reservoir and the capital won by the banker (the first settling player's main wager) are returned to the banker reservoir. In the most preferred embodiment, neither the capital extracted from the banker reservoir, nor the first settling bettor's main wager (which the banker won) is returned to the banker reservoir. If only one of the first settling bettor's three-card hands (either the front or the back hand) beats the corresponding three-card hand of the banker, then the hand is a push and the first settling bettor's main wager is returned, and the amount of capital extracted from the banker reservoir is returned either to the banker or to the banker reservoir. In the most preferred embodiment, the capital extracted from the banker reservoir is delivered to the banker (and not returned to the banker reservoir) when the hand is a push.

In the event that the first settling bettor's hand is a fouled hand, then in some preferred embodiments, the bettor's main wager is forfeited to the banker and the capital extracted from the banker reservoir is delivered to the banker. In other embodiments, the capital extracted from the banker reservoir is returned to the banker reservoir in the event of a fouled bettor hand.

In one preferred embodiment, once the first bettor's main wager has been settled, the settling process continues according to a known or predetermined sequence until either the banker reservoir has been completely depleted, or all of the bettors' main wagers have been settled. In some embodiments, when the banker reservoir has been completely depleted without settling all of the bettors' main wagers, the unsettled main wagers are returned to the appropriate bettor. In other words, a bettor who posts a main wager that is not settled prior to exhaustion of the banker reservoir neither gains nor loses any capital in that hand (other than any exotic wager, or ante/rake that may have been extracted from the players' capital).

In those embodiments where the dealer always acts as the banker on behalf of the casino/card room, or the representative always acts as the banker on behalf of the corporation/charity, it is less important to determine the order of settling. It is similarly somewhat unnecessary to establish a banking reservoir because the casino/card room and/or corporation/charity will have access to a quasi-unlimited capital reservoir that can be used to settle all players' main wagers.

In some of the preferred embodiments in which one of the players is designated as a banker, and the banker puts up a banker reservoir, the dealer on behalf of the casino/card room or the representative on behalf of the corporation/charity may settle any main wagers that remain outstanding when the banker reservoir is exhausted. This would include the settling of any partial over-bet made by a single bettor whose main wager is only partially settled prior to exhaustion of the banker reservoir. In the most preferred embodiment, the representative on behalf of the corporation settles the outstanding main wagers following exhaustion of the banker reservoir. In those embodiments where the representative or the dealer settles the remaining, outstanding main wagers, the representative continues play of the banker's set three-card hands and the representative collects or pays out the remaining main wager(s) capital as if the banker's hand belonged to the representative.

In some embodiments, the banker may not have the discretion to set the banking hand. In other embodiments, the banker may have the option to ask the dealer to set the banking hand on the banker's behalf. In some embodiments, the dealer is the banker. In other embodiments, the representative is the banker. In some embodiments of the invention, any player has the option to request that the dealer, the representative, or some third-party set the player's hand on the player's behalf. In the preferred embodiments where the dealer or a third-party may set the banker's hand or may set a player's hand, the hands must be set according to the house logical ways guidelines. The house logical ways guidelines may be posted, promulgated, printed, or distributed for the players' reference.

In some preferred embodiments, the house logical ways guidelines will include rules for how whole hands containing the Power Pair (e.g. Joker pair) will be set into front and back hands. In one preferred embodiment, when the power pair is found with a second pair in a single whole hand, the House will not split the power pair of the back hand to improve the front hand unless the front hand is improved to a pair of tens or better (and the value of the back had remains superior in value to the front hand).

In some preferred embodiments, the House logical ways guidelines will include rules for how whole hands containing trips will be set into front and back hands. The default rule, in most preferred embodiments, will be to set trips as the back hand. In some cases, the House will reduce what would otherwise be set as trips in the back hand to a pair in the back hand, and use the third card of the trips to improve the point value of a front hand. In some preferred embodiments, trips will not be reduced to improve a front hand to a point value of five or less. In other words, if splitting the trips does not result in a front hand of six points or better, the trips will be set as the back hand.

In some preferred embodiments, trips of rank ten or higher are the only trips that qualify to be reduced to improve the front hand. In some embodiments trip tens or trip jacks will only be reduced to improve the front hand to a point value of eight or better. In some embodiments, trip Queens or trip kings will only be reduced to improve a front hand to a point value of seven or better. In some embodiments, trip Aces will only be reduced to improve the front hand to a point value of six or better. In some embodiments, the House will not reduce trips of rank nine or lower regardless of the improvement that may be made to the point value of the front hand.

In some preferred embodiments, the House will play a whole hand consisting of a pair and trips without reducing the trips. That is, the front hand will be set with the pair and the back hand will be set with the trips. (e.g. the house logical guidelines will dictate that a whole hand of 5,5,4,K,K,K be set as 5,5,4/K,K,K.) In some embodiments, the same rule applies whether the pair is a mixed pair or a cloned pair. (e.g. the house logical guidelines will dictate that a whole hand of 5, JOKER, 4, K, K, K be set as 5, JOKER, 4 K,K,K.)

In some preferred embodiments the house logical ways guidelines will include rules for how whole hands containing two pair are to be set into front and back hands. In some preferred embodiments, the whole hand containing two pair is played with a higher pair and higher kicker set as the back hand and the lower pair with the lower kicker set as the front hand. In some embodiments, where the two pair includes one wild card (e.g. one Joker), the house logical ways guidelines will dictate that the Joker will be used to create a pair in the front hand plus a pair in the back hand instead of trips in the back hand and no-pair (or points) in the front hand. In some embodiments, where the whole hand contains two wild cards (e.g. two Jokers plus four cards of different rank) the hand will be played as a two pair hand; that is, the card of the highest rank will be in the back hand. The card was the second-highest rank will be in the front hand. The card with the third highest rank will be in the back hand and the card with the fourth highest rank would be in the front hand. For example, and in accordance with the above rule, the whole hand (4, 6, 8, K, Joker, Joker) would be set as (Joker, 8, 4) in the front hand and (Joker, K, 6) in the back hand.

In some preferred embodiments, the house logical ways guidelines will include rules for how whole hands containing four of a kind are to be set into front and back hands. In one preferred embodiment, a cloned four of a kind will be regarded as a two pair hand and follow the appropriate rules described above. For example, the whole hand (2, 2, 2, 2, 6, Q) will be set with (2, 2, 6) in the front hand and (2, 2, Q) in the back hand. In some preferred embodiments, a whole hand containing four of a kind which includes a wild card (e.g. Joker) will be set in the same way as the two pair hands described above. For example, the whole hand (4, 4, 4, Joker, 7, K) will be set as (Joker, 4, 7) in the front hand and (4, 4, K) in the back hand. In the most preferred embodiments, the house logical ways guidelines for a whole hand containing four of a kind that includes a wild card will be set as trips in the back hand and a pair in the front hand. For example, the whole hand (5, 5, 5, Joker, 3, A) would be set with (Joker, A, 3) in the front hand and (5,5,5) in the back hand. In some embodiments, a whole hand containing four of a kind which includes two wild cards (e.g. two Jokers) will be set with the power pair in the back hand and the other pair in the front hand. In some embodiments, the power pair will be set with the higher kicker; in other embodiments the other pair will be set with the higher kicker. In the most preferred embodiment, the higher kicker will be set in the front hand and not with the power pair in the back hand.

In those embodiments where the card pool contains more than two wild cards, such that whole hands containing three or more wildcards are possible, the house logical ways guidelines will dictate that the hands will be set with three wild cards in the back hand. In the most preferred embodiment, the card pool will contain one standard deck of 52 cards plus 2 Jokers as wildcards. Therefore in the most preferred embodiment, it will not be possible to have a whole hand containing more than two wild cards.

In some preferred embodiments, the house logical ways guidelines will include rules for how whole hands containing one clone pair (and no wild cards) are to be set into front and back hands. In one preferred embodiment, the clone pair is always set in the back hand and the remaining four cards are distributed such that the front hand is set to achieve a point value as close as possible to a point value of nine. In other embodiments, if the clone pair has a rank of nine or lower, and it is not possible to set a front hand from among the remaining four cards to achieve the point value greater than or equal to a point value of six, then the cloned pair of rank nine or lower will be split to improve the front hand to a point value of eight or better provided, however, that the value of the no-pair back hand remains superior to the value of the no-pair front hand.

In some preferred embodiments, the house logical ways guidelines will include rules for how whole hands containing three clone pair are to be set into front and back hands. In the most preferred embodiment, the highest clone pair will be set in the back hand and the second highest clone pair will be set in the front hand. The remaining pair will be split between the front and back hands.

In some preferred embodiments, the house logical ways guidelines will include rules for how whole hands containing three pair, wherein one pair is a mixed pair, are to be set into front and back hands. In some embodiments, the higher clone pair will be set in the back hand with the wild card to make the highest possible trips, and the remaining clone pair will be set in the front hand with the remaining card. In the most preferred embodiment, the lower clone pair will be set in the back hand with the wild card to make trips, and the higher clone pair will be set in the front hand with the remaining card.

In some preferred embodiments, the house logical ways guidelines will include rules for how whole hands containing three pair, wherein one pair is the power pair, are to be set into front and back hands. In one embodiment, the higher clone pair is set in the front hand, the power pair is set in the back hand, and the lower clone pair is split between the two. In the most preferred embodiment, the higher clone pair is set in the back hand, the lower clone pair is set in the front hand, and the power pair is split between them to set trips in both the front and back hands.

In some preferred embodiments, the house logical ways guidelines will include rules for how whole hands containing one wild card plus five cards, each of the five having a different rank, are to be set into front and back hands. The wild card (e.g. Joker) is always set in the back hand to ensure that the value of the back hand exceeds the value of the front hand. If the five non-wildcards in the whole hand include only one card having rank higher than Ten (that is A, K, Q, J) then that card is played with the wild card (and becomes the set pair in the back hand) if and only if the remaining four cards can be distributed such that the front hand is set with a point value greater than or equal to eight points. For example, the whole hand (Joker, K, 8, 4, 3, 2) would be set as (Joker, K, 8) in the back hand and (4,3,2) in the front hand. If it is not possible to do so, then the single card having rank higher than 10 will be played in the front hand, provided that by so doing the front hand may be set with a point value greater than or equal to eight points. In some preferred embodiments, the requirement that the single card having rank higher than 10 must be used as part of the front hand to achieve a point value greater than or equal to eight points will not be enforced if it is not possible to set the back hand to a pair within three ranks of the single card, then the single card will be set in the back hand regardless of the point value maximum obtainable for the front hand from the remaining four cards.

In some preferred embodiments, when a single wild card appears in a whole hand along with five other cards having non-equivalent rank, wherein more than one of those five cards has a rank greater than 10, the higher (or highest) of the at least two cards ranked higher than ten will be used to improve the no-pair front hand to a point value of six points or better (if needed). However, if setting the front hand with the higher or highest of the at least two cards ranked higher than ten does not improve the point value of the front hand, or if the point value of the front hand is already greater than or equal to six points, then the higher or highest card with a rank greater than ten will be set in the back hand.

In some preferred embodiments, when a single wild card appears in a whole hand along with five other cards having non-equivalent rank, wherein all of the five cards have a rank less than or equal to ten, then the front hand will be set to a point value as close to nine as possible, and the wild card will be played in the back hand with the other two cards. For example, the whole hand (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, Joker) will be set as (2, 3, 4) in the front hand and (5, 8, Joker) in the back hand.

In some preferred embodiments, the house logical ways guidelines will include rules for how no-pair whole hands (i.e. whole hands containing no clone pair and no wild card) will be set. In some of the preferred embodiments, the hand will be set by evening out the points in the front and back hands, provided that the value the back hand meets or exceeds the value of the front hand. In some preferred embodiments, if the front and back hands of the no-pair whole hand are set with equal point values of eight points or lower, then the hand can not be deemed a foul hand regardless of the ranks of the individual cards in the three-card hands. In other embodiments, the ranking of the highest card in the back hand must exceed the ranking of the highest card in the front hand or the hand is a fouled hand. In some preferred embodiments, if the front hand in the back hand from a no-pair whole hand, are both set with point values equal to nine points, then the highest rank card in the back hand must exceed the highest rank card in the front hand or the hand is considered a fouled hand.

The game of the invention can be a casino style card game played with a conventional deck of 52 cards plus 2 Jokers. The Jokers can act as wildcards and can be used to complete a pair or trips. The game can be played with a plurality of players, a dealer, and a representative. The players can be divided into one banker plus at least one bettor. The optimum amount of players is nine players. The dealer can be an officer, agent or employee of the casino or card room hosting the game; and the representative can be an officer, agent or employee of a third-party corporation or charity. Typically, the players will be seated around a semicircular table facing the dealer. The representative, if any, may be seated at the table with the players or the representative may be behind the table with the dealer.

At the beginning of the game, the player seated to the far left of the dealer can be given the option to act as the banker. If the player accepts the option to act as the banker, that player is given the banker button. If that player declines the option to act as the banker, then the player seated to that player's immediate left can have the option to act as the banker (and so on until the banker button is delivered).

When the player designated as the banker has received the banker button, the banker can make a wager, which is known as the banker reservoir. Except in unusual circumstances, the banker reservoir is the maximum amount of money that the banker can win or lose in that hand. When the banker reservoir has been set, the other players, known as bettors, place their main wagers. Each bettor's main wager is the maximum amount of money that the bettor can win or lose in the hand.

When the main wagers have been set, the dealer can either manually or mechanically divide the card pool into nine hands containing six cards each. The six-card hands are called whole hands. The whole hands are placed in a row—card faces down—in front of the players. The player designated as the banker can then select one of the whole hands at random. An action button is placed on top of the hand selected by the banker. This hand is referred to as the action hand. The banker then selects the action player at random. To do so, the banker will place three dice into a dice cup shake it around and expose the dice on the playing table. The sum of the dice will be a quasi-random number between three and 18. Beginning with the banker as number one, the players will be counted off in a clockwise direction (in other words, proceeding in the direction to the banker's left) until the random number is reached. The player corresponding to the random number is designated as the action player. The dealer then delivers the action hand with the action button to the action player. The remaining hands are distributed to the remaining players according to a preset formula, which is based on the seating position of the action player. The selection of the action and by the banker and the quasi-random selection of the action player help to ensure fairness in the game.

Once the players have received their whole hand, each player can divide the six-card whole hand into two, three-card hands. The three card hands are called the front hand and the back hand. The value of the back hand must exceed the value of the front hand. If the value of the front hand exceeds the value of the back hand, then the hand is a fouled hand. On a fouled hand, the player can forfeit the main wager to the banker (or the dealer or the representative). FIG. 1A provides an example of a proper way to divide a specific whole hand into three-card front and a back hand whereas FIG. 1B provides an example a fouled hand created from the same whole hand.

Royal flushes, straight flushes, full houses, flushes, straights, or two-pair hands can be eliminated as possibilities for the front and/or the back hands. The possible hands can be the so-called power pair, trips (three of a kind), one pair, and no-pair hands. The power pair can be any three card hand that contains two Jokers. A Joker may be used to create a pair or to create trips. The power pair can be a superior hand to trips. Trips (three-of-a-kind) of a higher rank is a superior hand to trips of a lower rank. A clone pair is a pair containing two cards in the same rank. A mixed pair is a pair containing a Joker or wild card. A clone pair can be a superior hand to a mixed pair of the same rank, but in a preferred embodiment, a clone pair and a mixed pair of the same rank are equal, thus the superiority of a hand can be determined by comparing the rank of the third card (power card or kicker) in the three-card hands. A pair of a higher rank is a superior hand to a pair of a lower rank. In the event that two competing three-card hands contain equivalent pairs, (e.g. a clone pair of fives versus a second clone pair of fives), then the hand with the higher kicker, which is also referred to as the power card, can be the superior hand. Two identical hands are referred to as copies. FIG. 2 provides examples of three-card hand comparisons in one preferred embodiment. These examples cover some of the cases where the hands contain at least one pair. The symbol “§” is used to indicate a Joker (wild card). In one preferred embodiment, the three-card hand on the left in a row is superior in value to the three-card hand on the right in that same row.

The value of no-pair front and back hands can be determined on the basis of points. The point value of each no-pair hand can be determined by the sum of the points of the individual cards in each three-card hand. Tens and face cards (K, Q, J) are worth zero points; Aces are worth one point; and numerical cards have the point value of their rank. In those instances where the sum of the three cards' point value is greater than nine, then the “tens” column is ignored, and the point value of the three-card hand is equal to the numerical value in the “ones” column. Therefore, the highest point value achievable is a point value of nine, and the lowest point value achievable is a point value of zero. If two competing three-card hands have the same point value, and the point value is equal to eight or less, then the hands can be considered copies, regardless of the rank of the cards in each hand. If two competing three-card hands have the same point value, and the point value is equal to nine, then the hands can only be copies if the ranks of the three cards in one hand are identical to the ranks of the three cards in the other hand. Otherwise, the hand containing the highest ranked card that does not appear in the competing hand can be considered to be the superior hand. FIG. 3A provides examples of three-card hand comparisons based on point values for a preferred embodiment. These examples cover some of the cases where the hands do not contain either a clone or mixed pair. In one preferred embodiment, the three-card hand on the left in a row is superior in value to the three-card hand on the right in that same row. FIG. 3B provides additional examples of three-card hand comparisons based on point values for a preferred embodiment. These examples cover some of the cases where the hands do not contain either a clone or mixed pair. In one preferred embodiment, the three-card hand on the left in a row is equal in value to the three-card hand on the right in that same row. In such cases, the three-card hands having equivalent value are referred to as “copies.”

The goal of the game for each bettor is to set the front hand and the back hand such that the bettor's front hand has a higher value than the banker's front hand, and the bettor's back hand has a higher value than the banker's back hand. A tie or copy goes to the banker. Therefore, if the banker's front hand is a copy of, or has a higher value than, the bettor's front hand and/or the banker's back hand is a copy of, or has a higher value than, the bettor's back hand, then the banker wins. If a bettor's front hand has a higher value than the banker's front hand, but the bettor's back hand does not have a higher value than the banker's back hand, (or vice versa), then the hand is a push.

A player can have the discretion to set his front hand and back hand in any way the player chooses except that the value of the back hand should meet or exceed the value of the front hand. However, each player can ask the dealer to set the player's front and back hands from the player's whole hand, rather than exercise their discretion and set the front and back hands themselves. Where a player elects for the dealer to set the player's front and back hands, the dealer will do so according to the house logical ways guidelines described generally herein.

If a whole hand contains a power pair and a second pair, the House can reduce, that is split, the power pair if by so doing, the front hand will then be set as a pair of tens or better. When the power pair is found with two other pairs in the whole hand, then the power pair is split to make trips in both the front hand and a back hand. The back hand set to contain trips of the higher rank. FIG. 4A provides an example of the proper way in one preferred embodiment to split a power pair under the House Logical Ways. FIG. 4B provides an example of an improper way to split a power pair in that same embodiment. FIG. 5 provides an example of the proper way in one preferred embodiment to split a power pair under the House Logical Ways when the whole hand also contains two clone pair.

If a whole hand contains trips, the trips can be reduced if its rank is 10 or higher and the front hand can be improved to six points or greater. If the front hand can not be improved to six points or better by reducing the trips, then trips can be played as the back hand. The House can reduce trip jacks or trip tens to improve the front hand to the value of eight points or better. The House can reduce trip queens or trip kings to improve a front hand to seven points or better. The House can reduce trip Aces to improve the front hand to six points or better.

If a whole hand contains two clone pair, the House can play the hand as is with the higher pair in the back hand, the lower pair in the front hand, the higher power card or kicker in the back hand, and the lower power card or kicker in the front hand. FIG. 6 provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand, under the House Logical Ways, from a whole hand containing two clone pair and no Joker or wild card. If a whole hand contains a mixed pair and a clone pair, the higher pair can be played in the back hand with a higher power card or kicker, the lower pair can be played in the front hand with the lower power card or kicker. If a whole hand contains two mixed pairs, the hand will be set with the highest possible mixed pair in the front hand, the second highest possible mixed pair in the front hand, the higher of the remaining two cards in the back hand, and the lower in the front hand. FIG. 7 provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand, under the House Logical Ways, from a whole hand containing two mixed pair.

Where a whole hand contains four of a kind, the House can play the hand as a two-pair hand, regardless of the rank of the four of a kind. FIG. 8A provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand, under the House Logical Ways, from a whole hand containing four-of-a-kind. Where a whole hand contains four-of-a-kind plus a pair, the House can play the hand as trips in the back hand plus a pair in the front hand. FIG. 8B provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand, under the House Logical Ways, from a whole hand containing four-of-a-kind plus a clone pair.

Where a whole hand contains one clone pair, and no Jokers, the House can set a clone pair in the back hand, set the three of the remaining four cards in the front hand which maximize the front hand's point value, and set the remaining card in the back hand with the clone pair. FIG. 9 provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand, under the House Logical Ways, from a whole hand containing a clone pair of rank higher than nine. If the clone pair is of rank nine or lower, and the maximum point value obtainable from the remaining four cards is less than six points, then the House can reduce the clone pair to improve the front hand to eight points or better provided, however that the no-pair hand set in the back hand meets or exceeds the point value of the no-pair hand in the front hand. FIG. 10 provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand by splitting a clone pair, under the House Logical Ways, from a whole hand containing a clone pair of rank less than or equal to nine.

Where a whole hand contains one Joker plus five cards, each having a different rank, and where only one of the cards has a rank higher than 10, the House can set the one card with rank higher than 10 in the back hand with the Joker if the point value of the front hand is greater than or equal to eight points, if setting the one card with rank higher than 10 in the front hand will improve the point value of the front hand to eight points or higher, and the card of highest rank in the back hand resulting from the change is not more than three ranks lower than the one card having rank higher than 10.

Where a whole hand contains one Joker plus 5 cards, each having a different rank, and where two or more of the cards have ranks higher than 10, the House can set the highest card in the front hand to improve the front hand to a point value of six points or better. FIG. 11A provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand, under the House Logical Ways, from a whole hand containing a Joker (wild card) to improve the point value of the front hand. The symbol “§” is used to indicate a Joker (wild card).

Where a whole hand contains one Joker plus 5 cards, each having a different rank, and wherein none of the five cards is higher than 10 in rank, the front hand will be set to the maximum possible point value obtainable from the five cards, and the Joker will be set in the back hand with the remaining two cards. FIG. 11B provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand, under the House Logical Ways, from a whole hand containing a Joker (wild card) to improve the point value of the front hand. The symbol “§” is used to indicate a Joker (wild card).

Where a whole hand does not contain a Joker and does not contain a clone pair, (i.e. a no-pair whole hand) the House can set the front and back hands such that the point values for the front and back hands are as close as possible in magnitude. FIG. 12A provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand, under the House Logical Ways, from a no-pair whole hand. Where the values of the front and the back hand are not equal in point value, the point value of the back hand should exceed the point value of the front hand, otherwise the hand may be a fouled hand. FIG. 12B provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand, under the House Logical Ways, from a no-pair whole hand where the point values are not equal. Where the point values of the front hand and the back hand are equal, and the point value is less than or equal to eight, the card rankings are not considered. FIG. 12C provides an example of a proper way, in one preferred embodiment, to make a front hand and a back hand, under the House Logical Ways, from a no-pair whole hand where the point values are both equal to nine. Either hand may be set as the front hand or the back hand. Where the point values of the front hand and the back hand are both equal to nine, then the back hand should be set to contain the card of the highest rank. Otherwise, the hand may be a fouled hand.

The settling of main wagers can begin with the action player. An amount of capital (chips, checks, cash, credit) equal to the main wager of the action player can be extracted from the banker reservoir and placed in the center of the table by the dealer. If the main wager of the action player exceeds the amount of capital in the banker reservoir, then the amount of the over-bet in the main wager can be set aside or returned to the action player. If the action player is a winner as determined by the above stated rules, then the capital extracted from the banker reservoir plus the action player's main wager can be delivered to the action player by the dealer. If the action player is not a winner, or if the action player's hand is a fouled hand, then the amount of capital extracted from the banker reservoir plus the action player's main wager can be delivered to the banker. If the hand is a push, then the action players main wager can be returned to the action player, and the amount of capital extracted from the banker's reservoir can be delivered to the banker. Settling can then move to the player to the left of the action player. This process can continue until the banker reservoir is exhausted, or all main wagers are settled.

In the event that the banker reservoir is exhausted before all of the main wagers are settled, then it can be the responsibility of either the dealer or the representative to settle the remaining main wagers or portions thereof. The process of settling and delivering can be the same as for the banker's reservoir except that the credit necessary to cover the bettors' main wagers can be extracted from either the casino reservoir or the corporate reservoir, as applicable. In other words, the dealer and/or the representative can play the banker's hand as though the dealer and/or the representative were the banker. The settling process can continue until all of the bettors' main wagers have been settled.

When the settling process is complete, the hand is complete. The banker action button can be returned to the dealer, the playing cards can be collected ther manually or mechanically, and the player to the immediate left of the can have the option to play the next hand as the banker, or to pass the banker xt eligible player.

While certain aspects and embodiments of the invention have been have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit invention. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be variety of other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. The claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications thin the scope and spirit of the invention. 

1. A method for playing a game comprising; providing a plurality of players, wherein at least one of said plurality of players is a bettor; providing a card pool, wherein said card pool comprises, at least one standard deck of cards, and at least one wild card; dealing cards from said card pool into a plurality of whole hands, wherein each of said whole hands consists of six cards; delivering one whole hand of said plurality of whole hands to each of the plurality of bettors; directing at least one bettor of said plurality of bettors to arrange said at least one bettor's said one whole hand into two, three-card hands, wherein one of said three-card hands is a front hand and one of said three-card hands is a back hand; determining the three-card value of said front hand, wherein said three-card value comprises: poker value if said front hand comprises a pair, and point value if said front hand does not comprise a pair; determining the three-card value of said back hand, wherein said three-card value consists of: poker value if said back hand comprises a pair, and point value if said back hand does not comprise a pair; determining a reference front hand; determining a three-card value of said reference front hand; determining a reference back hand; determining a three-card value of said reference back hand; and evaluating whether said bettor is a winner, wherein said bettor is a winner where: said three-card value of said bettor's said front hand exceeds said three-card value of said reference front hand; and said three-card value of said bettor's said back hand exceeds said three-card value of said reference back hand.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said poker values are selected from the group consisting essentially of a power pair, three of a kind, two pair, and one pair.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said point values are less than or equal to nine.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein each of said steps of determining said point values further comprises: determining a single-card value for each of said cards in said three-card hand, wherein said single-card value for each said card is equal to: one, if said card is an Ace; zero, if said card is a King, Queen, Jack, or Ten; or the numerical face value of said card if said card is a nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, or two; determining the sum of said single-card values in said three-card hand; and determining the modulo of said sum with respect to a divisor, wherein said divisor is equal to ten.
 5. A method of playing a card game among at least two players comprising the steps of: publishing a ranking list, wherein said ranking list establishes the value of a three-card hand; providing a card pool, wherein the card pool comprises at least one deck of at least 52 playing cards; providing each of said players with a whole hand, said whole hand comprising at least six cards from said card pool; commencing the game by having the players divide their whole hand into a front hand and a back hand, wherein said front hand comprises three cards, and said back hand comprises three cards; designating a reference front hand; designating a reference back hand, comparing a player's front hand against a reference front hand; comparing a player's back hand against a reference back hand; rewarding a player if the value of the player's front hand exceeds the value of the reference front hand and the player's back hand exceeds the value of the reference back hand.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said card pool consists of one standard deck of 52 playing cards and two wild cards.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein said whole hand consists of exactly six cards.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said value of said three-card hand is equal to a point value if said three-card hand does not contain a wild card, and if said three-card hand does not contain two or more cards of the same rank.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said point value of said three-card hand is determined by the sum of the point values of the three cards in said three-card hand.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the point value of a card is equal to its numerical rank if the card is in the group comprising 2 through 10; the point value of a card is equal to zero if the card is in the group comprising jack through king, and the point value of a card is equal to one if the card is an Ace.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the point value of a three-card hand is equal to the remainder when said sum of said point values of the three cards in the three-card hand is divided by ten. 